The Houston Rockets were able to extend their series against the Golden State Warriors as they head into a win-or-go-home situation in Game 7. The Rockets have won the last two games to force Game 7, and head coach Ime Udoka has had his team locked in for a chance to advance to the next round. Udoka has done a great job, but in Game 6, he had some help from a close friend in Gregg Popovich.

The San Antonio Spurs announced on the same day of Game 6 that Popovich would be retiring from coaching and would be the new president of basketball operations for the team. Udoka used to play under Popovich when he was with the Spurs in 2007, and now, as a coach for the Rockets, he mentioned that he got some tips from the Spurs legend before Game 6, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick.

“The man whose legacy is best understood by studying his incredible coaching tree, and whose combination of five titles and the league record for wins puts him on the Mount Rushmore of all-time greats, had a few X’s and O’s thoughts to share about how Udoka’s Rockets could extend the series against this Warriors team that is led by another of Popovich’s beloved pupils, Steve Kerr,” Amick wrote.

Udoka noted that Popovich gave him some pointers, but didn't go into detail about what was said.

Rockets force Game 7 vs. Warriors

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The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
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The Rockets were once down 3-1 in the series, but the past few games have been going great for them. Fred VanVleet has been the bright spot for the Rockets and has been leading them through the past two games. In Game 5 he scored 26 points, and in Game 6 he scored 29 points.

Steven Adams has been big for the Rockets as well, and in Game 6 he had 17 points. After Game 6, Adams spoke about how he was able to make a difference in the game to help them force a Game 7.

“I just follow the game plan, bro,” Adams said to the reporters. “The defensive game plan. Read, communicate.”

The Rockets will be at home in Game 7, and they should have the clear advantage after winning the past two games. The Warriors have the experience of being in these types of situations, so it won't be that easy. However, the Rockets still have proven players such as VanVleet and Adams to help them to try and advance to the next round.